Forecasting Director - US Oncology

Location: Gaithersburg
Hybrid - 3 days per week in office

At AstraZeneca, we’re not afraid to do things differently. We’re resetting expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening up new ways to work, ground breaking and cutting-edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together.  

The ForecastingDirector, Oncology leadstheUSforecasting process forGynecology+Genitourinaryindications and the LYNPARZA brandinthe Oncology portfolio. As a thought partner to the business,theForecasting Directorwill develop product-specific short-term and long-term forecasts andprovidecritical insights into market risks & opportunities that mayimpactperformance toultimately guidecommercial strategy and decision-making.Strong analytical and critical thinking skillsare essentialto developingrigorousforecasts using patient-flow/patient-based modelsand incorporating new AI capabilities.TheForecasting Directorseamlesslycollaborateswith Insights and Analyticscolleagues todeliver fact-driven, actionable insights to the business. In addition,theForecasting Directorwill closelypartnerwith Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Sales Operations, Global Analytics & Insights, Supply Planning, and Finance to ensure alignment on forecast assumptions andnarrative.TheForecasting Directorregularlypresentsto senior leadersthe forecast and performance story.Key abilitiesincludeconsultative and influencing skills,quantitative technical skills,andproficiencyin interpreting primary market research/secondary data analyses.

TheForecasting Director’sdeepexpertisein forecastingenablesthem to solvecomplex technical challengesefficiently and effectively,anticipateupcoming forecast questions,andidentifyinnovative solutions, including AI,thatbenefitthe entireportfolio.

Beyond brand-level contribution, theForecasting Directorplaysan integral role as a leader within the US Oncology Forecasting & PerformanceCoE(Center of Excellence), helping to deliver cross-brand forecasting alignment, efficiencies, best practices, and capability builds.In addition,theForecasting Directorwill help to coach and train a forecasting & performance talent pipeline.

This role reports to the Integrated Insights Senior Director for theTumorFranchise and sits within US Integrated Insights - Oncology Business Excellence organization, aninclusiveteam that partners with the US Oncology commercial organization to drive strategic decisions by providing objective, data-driven insight generation and analytics.

Roles & Responsibilities: 

• Lead the US forecasting and business planning processes and all associated work streams for covered brand / indications (scenario planning, integration with Finance, etc.) 

• Develop, build,andmaintainup-to-date product-specific short-term and long-term forecasts models,synthesizing an integrated picture with information across multiple sources; asrequired, manage external agency executing the model build/update

• Proactively and clearlyidentifykeydriversthatimpactshort-term and long-range product and market forecasts, highlighting significant risks and opportunities 

• IncorporateAIanalytical tools intotheforecast process and drivecontinuingenhancementsoftheAI forecasting platform

• Collaborate cross-functionally with key commercial leaders,Business Excellencecolleagues, and other forecast stakeholders to align on objective, data-driven forecast inputs

• Provide in-depth analysesof underlyingdrivers of brand performance in support of key business deliverables and milestones (e.g.Quarterly Business Reviews) 

• Monitor external environment to stay up to dateon thecompetitive landscapeandlatest marketdevelopments for covered brand/indications as well as broader Oncology trends 

• Consult onprimary research and secondary analyticsrelevant to forecasting,and incorporate results into modeling to adddeep customer insight andassessfuture events

• Deliver insightful, objective presentationsto senior leaders(e.g.,SVPUS CommercialOncology,VP ofUS Franchise)that clearly and succinctly highlight critical insights and business implications through strong storytelling

• Collaborate with senior US leaders on performance narrative for C-level audience

• Maintain effective relationships with contractors and other third-party vendors through oversight of the vendor management process

• Directand help prioritizework of Forecasting & PerformanceAssociate Directors,Sr. Managers,and Sr. Analysts 

• Work withUS Oncology ForecastingCenter of ExcellenceSenior Directorto build forecasting capabilities andidentifyand drive cross-brand forecasting process efficiencies,automation, and innovation(including AI capabilities)

EssentialExperience/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, with a preference for a quantitative field (e.g.,Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, Math, Economics,Computer Science,Operations Research)

• 6years ofexperience at apharmaceutical/biotechnology manufacturer orworkingin the biopharmaceutical industry (e.g.,forecasting,data/analytics, management consulting, market research, investment banking)

• 6years of experience in forecasting: building models, leading input evaluation,communicating outputs, andguiding business decisions based;4years of forecastingspecificallyinabiopharmaceutical role

• Deepexpertiseinbuildingthe pharmaceuticalforecast models,a broad range offorecasting techniques, andleading/optimizing the full forecasting process; requiresno supervisionand able to directmore junior forecasting team members

• Highly experienced in evaluating analytics from pharmaceutical data sources (APLD, IQVIA, claims, etc.) and epidemiological data (SEER,Kantar, DRG) 

• Strongknowledgeof primary market research, advanced analytics,and competitive intelligence; experience leading those projects or collaborating with others to integrate findings into the forecast 

• Occasional travel may berequired

Desired Experience/Qualifications

• Advanced Quantitative Degree or Advanced Marketing Degree (e.g., MBA) 

• Experience working in Oncology

Leadership Capabilities: